News

Published: 12 September 2016

Werrington Dad’s greatest Fathers’ Day gift is a home with Mission Australia Housing

Without safe, secure and sustainable accommodation, Mr Tinetalli says his family’s arrival in Australia from New Zealand in 2010 would have been a very stressful experience and may have resulted in homelessness. Originally from Samoa, the family lived in various countries before moving to Australia primarily so their son could access quality education. But on their arrival, they struggled to find somewhere affordable to live and outstayed their welcome with family in Merrylands. After several months on the Social Housing Waiting List, in 2011 they moved into a Mission Australia Housing apartment in Werrington.

“Coming to Australia, the land of opportunities, and having a roof over my family’s head has been such a great support. We would have been homeless without Mission Australia Housing. Starting a new life with the family in a new country can be daunting. But the Mission Australia staff are such beautiful people. They checked in with us regularly and made sure we settled in. They even provided us with food that had been donated by the local community,” said Mr Tinetalli.

Now, Mr Tinetalli said his family will continue to strive for career success to provide for future generations as well as give back to the community.

“We want for our next generation, our boys and their families, to continue to value their families and thank Australia by giving back. With a roof over our heads, we have been able to build ourselves up from there,” said Mr Tinetalli.

Mr Tinetalli’s wife who had always aspired to be a nurse has now completed an introductory course for aged care as well as a Certificate III and IV in aged care. She now works as a nurse at Liverpool Hospital up to four days a week.

Their youngest 17 year old son is completing his HSC and hopes to build a career as a musician and secure a scholarship. Mr Tinetalli says, “My wife and I encourage him to follow his dream. By choosing music as a career, he can continue the legacy of providing for family, family, family.”

Their two eldest sons are married, with one son welcoming the first child of the next generation in 2014.

As for Mr Tinetalli, he has since been on a mission to give back to the community and participates in several volunteer roles. He volunteers for The Pantry at Kingswood Church and distributes food to vulnerable members of the surrounding community. He also joins the cooking community every Wednesday at Christ Mission Possible in Kingswood which then visits communities and distributes the cooked meals to those in need. Mr Tinetalli is also a volunteer presenter on WOW FM 100.7 on Monday nights and provides a program for Pacific Islanders.

Mr Tinetalli and his wife also started a Multicultural Covenant Ministries dance group, Island Praise in 2013. The entire family gets involved in dance performances, with the dance group performing at Mission Australia Housing School Holiday Fun Days.

When reflecting on fatherhood, Mr Tinetalli says, “In my eyes, my role as a father is firstly to be a provider and secondly to protect my family. I’m so thankful to be here living in a Mission Australia Housing home. My son is at school, we have a home and food in the kitchen. We have all the basics for living. Slowly from there, we are looking for ways to share our gratitude with the Australian community.”

Mission Australia Housing works closely with Mission Australia, combining expertise in property and tenancy management with capability in social services delivery. Mission Australia Housing own and run 1051 long-term social and affordable rental properties across Western Sydney which provide much needed housing for low and moderate income households.

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Our founding purpose - 'Inspired by Jesus Christ, Mission Australia exists to meet human need and to spread the knowledge of the love of God'

Mission Australia Housing

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Mission Australia Housing is a Tier 1 Registered Housing Provider through National Registration and is registered as a ‘Growth Provider’ with the WA Housing Authority. Mission Australia Housing is also a National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) Approved Participant.

Mission Australia Housing Victoria is a Registered Housing Provider with the Victorian Housing Registrar.